By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says 12 per cent of vegetable oil samples and two per cent of salt samples analysed in a survey were inadequately fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.
The findings followed a two-month survey conducted by the commission in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
The survey covered selected markets and households in northern and southern Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, the FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, says the exercise analysed 200 samples, comprising 100 vegetable oil and 100 salt samples.
According to the commission, Nigeria’s national food policy requires manufacturers to fortify their products with essential vitamins and minerals.
“These include iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc and iodine”.
The commission explained that food fortification helps address micronutrient deficiencies and reduce hidden hunger, particularly among pre-school children and women of reproductive age.
The survey also identifies limited participation by manufacturers in the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform.
The platform, developed by GAIN, is designed to monitor and trace fortified food products from production to consumption.
The FCCPC said only six vegetable oil producers had registered on the platform, while just eight results from three companies were uploaded out of the 100 vegetable oil samples analysed.
The commission said it had issued directives compelling producers that failed to meet the required standards to comply with fortification requirements.
It notes that the matter had been escalated to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action under an existing memorandum of understanding between both agencies.
The FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, said consumers should be able to trust the quality of products they purchase and the nutritional benefits they are expected to provide.
Bello urged manufacturers to maintain appropriate quality standards and ensure their products meet applicable regulatory requirements.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
